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4.25 AVERAGE
4.25 AVERAGE
The book was fine, but I’m personally not a fan of the stakes increasing exponentially in every book to the point where literally almost half of this one was dedicated to one expansive battle scene. I’m not so much a fan of ”Harry watches while literal gods demolish each other” because paradoxically the stakes feel lower. We know Harry won’t die, and ultimately the state of the world won’t be turned upside down so despite everything blowing up all the time everywhere I’m less invested than when we get smaller but more meaningful stories and more personal interactions.
a.k.a. The Ballad of Butters the BAMF
A real rollercoaster of action and emotion, plus the Christmas Eve short story at the end, and now I've got a book hangover. I'm still so mad about some things that happened, but I couldn't put it down and overall it was a really good piece in the series.
A real rollercoaster of action and emotion, plus the Christmas Eve short story at the end, and now I've got a book hangover. I'm still so mad about some things that happened, but I couldn't put it down and overall it was a really good piece in the series.
This book was exhausting! I remember one of the first times I stopped the series was because it was action packed, almost too action packed. I got tired reading it. Well, silly Past Brad didn't know nothing. This entire book is basically one battle after another. It was good though, really good.
I love how Butcher continues to expand this word and up the stakes. Battling an Irish Titan and destroying most of Chicago is one of the most up-est of stakes to raise. I've read too many cliffhangers whose 2nd half doesn't live up to the first half or even fast forwards time. This one lived up to the hype and began almost on the heels of the first. Which makes sense, Butcher said his publisher made him split this and Peace Talk into two books. He just added more fight scenes in the one.
Now for those of you that are trying to remember what happened (like me!) I've got some spoilers. If you've not read this yet. Stop reading here. And know that this book is a turning point...on a couple of points.
Murphy kills a Jotan with a bazooka. Then gets killed by Rudolph...as he trips and the gun goes off. I expected her to die in each of the last few books. It's the right change for the series. But with Harry dying and coming back, I'm unconvinced we've seen the end of Murph. It lessened the impact for me.
Marcone picked up one of The Blackened Denarious Coins. I didn't see that one coming. Though I should have.
Butters character has grown fantastically. He's an awesome Knight of the Sword.
Justine ended up being possessed by Nemesis and was the one who made Thomas attack the elves. She's also a Walker. Which I think are Outsiders but I'm not sure.
Harry imprisons the Titan in a crystal in Demonreach. I saw this one coming, too. But it also made sense for the story and I wasn't soured by it.
And the end had some great set-ups: Mab betroths Harry to Lara, Harry maneuvers Marcone into giving him the castle that was built over Harry's burned down house, and Molly finally goes back to see her parents; who knew she was the Winter Lady.
I love how Butcher continues to expand this word and up the stakes. Battling an Irish Titan and destroying most of Chicago is one of the most up-est of stakes to raise. I've read too many cliffhangers whose 2nd half doesn't live up to the first half or even fast forwards time. This one lived up to the hype and began almost on the heels of the first. Which makes sense, Butcher said his publisher made him split this and Peace Talk into two books. He just added more fight scenes in the one.
Now for those of you that are trying to remember what happened (like me!) I've got some spoilers. If you've not read this yet. Stop reading here. And know that this book is a turning point...on a couple of points.
Spoiler
Murphy kills a Jotan with a bazooka. Then gets killed by Rudolph...as he trips and the gun goes off. I expected her to die in each of the last few books. It's the right change for the series. But with Harry dying and coming back, I'm unconvinced we've seen the end of Murph. It lessened the impact for me.
Marcone picked up one of The Blackened Denarious Coins. I didn't see that one coming. Though I should have.
Butters character has grown fantastically. He's an awesome Knight of the Sword.
Justine ended up being possessed by Nemesis and was the one who made Thomas attack the elves. She's also a Walker. Which I think are Outsiders but I'm not sure.
Harry imprisons the Titan in a crystal in Demonreach. I saw this one coming, too. But it also made sense for the story and I wasn't soured by it.
And the end had some great set-ups: Mab betroths Harry to Lara, Harry maneuvers Marcone into giving him the castle that was built over Harry's burned down house, and Molly finally goes back to see her parents; who knew she was the Winter Lady.
20 years, 17 books, and two anthologies. That’s how long the Dresden Files has been going on.
I wasn’t there reading it when it first started, but you best believe that I made up for that by making sure every book gets its full attention.
Even after a six year gap, Butcher hasn’t slipped a beat when it comes to writing exciting emotional stories.
Originally Peace Talks and Battle Grounds were supposed to be just one book, but due to the length, the publisher suggested to split it in two to avoid forcing an expensive book to readers. While the decision is a little controversial, I’m glad he went through with it, because there’s so much to pack here.
Immediately after Peace Talks, things go south as a Titan comes to wage war with Chicago. Every single character we’ve come to love over the course of two decades comes to the forefront and defends their lives and their homes.
Peace Talks was the setup, but Battle Grounds is the fight and by far the most action packed of all the books as everyone is pushed to their limits and beyond, heroes and villains are forced to work together, big character and world building revelations, and not since Changes, do we have a big shake up where the status quo is changed forever.
This is a great culmination perfect for the 20th anniversary. Read this series if you love mystery, dark fantasy, and great characters.
I wasn’t there reading it when it first started, but you best believe that I made up for that by making sure every book gets its full attention.
Even after a six year gap, Butcher hasn’t slipped a beat when it comes to writing exciting emotional stories.
Originally Peace Talks and Battle Grounds were supposed to be just one book, but due to the length, the publisher suggested to split it in two to avoid forcing an expensive book to readers. While the decision is a little controversial, I’m glad he went through with it, because there’s so much to pack here.
Immediately after Peace Talks, things go south as a Titan comes to wage war with Chicago. Every single character we’ve come to love over the course of two decades comes to the forefront and defends their lives and their homes.
Peace Talks was the setup, but Battle Grounds is the fight and by far the most action packed of all the books as everyone is pushed to their limits and beyond, heroes and villains are forced to work together, big character and world building revelations, and not since Changes, do we have a big shake up where the status quo is changed forever.
This is a great culmination perfect for the 20th anniversary. Read this series if you love mystery, dark fantasy, and great characters.
Not much plot and too much violence. This book could have been boiled down to 100 pages. Butcher continues to ratchet up the carnage with each book in the series. He's now to the level of a summer blockbuster movie - lots of gore, death, and sound. Too bad. Old characters brought back are two dimensional. This series has lost its charm and imagination.
More of what I've come to expect of this series: fun, light "popcorn" reading that is fast paced and entertaining - but don't read if you are expecting epic fantasy or in depth thought.
Delivered on every level. Still in shock at what happened to *that* character.
I'm a big fan of the Dresden books, but this one just felt repetitive. Aside from some solid emotional moments and good use of side characters, it's essentially 300+ pages of a huge battle. The fight scenes have never been my favorite part of theses books, so for me it was a lot of something I'm not super keen on. But if fight scenes are your favorite, have I got a book for you...
I cried
Another good entry in the story of Harry Dredsen. It will be so sad when the story is finally over.
Another good entry in the story of Harry Dredsen. It will be so sad when the story is finally over.